Maine: Wyeth's World

An unconventional house museum, folk art sculpture park, quintessential Maine coastal cottage, and other Midcoast favorites

Chances are very high you know Christina’s World. Of course you do—it’s one of the most famous, recognizable paintings by an American painter, possibly ever. It was painted by Andrew Wyeth in 1948 in Cushing Maine, where he spent summers obsessively creating paintings and sketches (more than 300 works! from 1938 to 1968) of the Olson siblings who lived in a weather-beaten saltwater farmhouse a few miles away. To visit the site of this iconic painting is a singular thrill, whether you’re a fan or not, especially if you’ve never given much thought to it being an actual place that still exists. Exist it most certainly does: A National Historic Landmark, the Olson House is a no-frills Maine treasure that attracts thousands of visitors every year, and after all this time, feels just as enduring and atmospheric as the painting itself.